Switch-controller.



H. D. WATERHOUSE. SWITCH CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.27, 1906. 992,305, r Patented May 16, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. D. WATERHOUSE.

SWITCH CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.27, 1906.

Patented May 16,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD D. WATERHOUSE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LAMSON CON-SOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

SWITCH-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent? Patented May 16, 1911.

Application filed February 27, 1906. Serial No. 303,307.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD D. WATER- HOUSE, of Norfolk Downs, Quincy, inthe which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in selective switch controllers forpneumat1c despatch tube systems, its object be1ng to produce a compact,reliable and select ve indicating device for electricallycontrollmg theswitches throughout the systems.

My invent-ion consists of certain novel features hereinafter describedand particularly pointed out in the claims.

ing my device in electrical connection therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlargedviewof one of the switches. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of controllershowing 'dial plate removed and shaft in section. Fig. 4 is a verticalsection of controller mounted at central station. ig. 5 is a frontelevation of the device. 7

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

The central despatching station A is connected with sub-receivingstations A, A, A A, A", A and A by the transmission tube B, the aircircuit returning through the transmission tube B to the centralreceiving station B Vacuum is maintained in the system by means ofsuctiondrum B connected therewith by the suction tube B. Sub despatchingstations G, C C C C, C and G are located along the line of and connectedwith the transmission tube B adjacent to their respective stations. traldespatching station is supported by the standard A and carries mountedthereon the controller E which is connected with switches atsub-stations A, A A A, A and A by the main wire Z and selective wires Z,Z Z Z, Z and Z. Current is supplied by the battery X. The sub-station Abeing the last receiving station on the line is not in electricalconnection with the controller E, the switch at said station remainingin open position at all times.

The switches (see Fig. 2) consists of the arm D pivoted at D andoperated by the The cen-- lever D pivotally connected to the core D ofthe solenoid D by the link D The trip or circuit breaker D is adaptedupon contact of a carrier therewith to break the conmotion of thesolenoid I) with the selective wire Z The controller consists of theouter support E, said support being mounted and attached to the centraldespatching shelf A (Fig. 4). The inner casing E containing theselective mechanism is mounted within the outer casing E and secured inposition therein by screws E Said casing E is removable from the outercasing E without.

disturbing the mechanism contained therein. The internal hub or hearingE is centrally locatedon the inner end of the casing E and carriesmounted therein the shaft E which is rotatable and longitudinallymovable therein. The dial plate E is secured to the face of the innercasing E by screws E and carries the central hub or bearing E which alsosupports said shaft E. The end of the shaft E projecting beyond thecasing is rigidly held in the controller handle E bythe pin E". Theindicator E is mounted in the hub E located on the hub of the handle Eand is held therein by the pin E Notches are located in the dial plateopposite each numeral on said plate and are adapted to receive theindicator E The collar E is pinned to the shaft E and confines thespiral spring E in position on the bearing E The plate F is driven onthe shaft E and is pinned to the fiber disk or commutator base F alsomounted on said shaft. The buffer or washer F is mounted on the shaft Ebetwecnthe fiber disk F and metal washer F and is adapted to absorb thereaction of the spring E. Mounted on said disk F is the commutator ringF*. The contact plate F is attached to the face of the disk F by screwsF 6 and is in electrical contact with said commutator ring F The contactG in the casing E. is separated therefrom by insulation G and held-inposition by the nut G The pin G is loosely mounted in the lower end ofthe contac t'G andis .held by the spring Gr" in continuous contact withthe commut-ator'ring Ft. The magnet base K and coils K K are attached tothe inner casing E by screws K. The coil K is,

The contacts H, H H H, H and H are mounted at intervals around theperiphery of the inner casing E and located opposite their respectivenumeralson the dial plate E These contacts are, insulated and held inposition in the casing by the nuts in the same manner as contact G. Theselective wires Z,

Z Z Z, Z and Z are connected respectively with contacts H, H H H, H andH. Normally said contacts are not in con nectibn, but any one isindependently adapt- If the operator at the central station desires todespatch a carrier to a clerk at sulrreceiving station A, the controllerhandle E is rotated until the indicator E points to the figure 4 on thedial plate E The handle is then pressed inward, forcing the shaft Eagainst the tension of the spiral spring E until the indicator Ecooperates with the notch opposite the figure 4, which notch holds theindicator at said figure preventing further rotation of the handle E Asthe handle E is pressed in, the contact H hits the plate F while thecontact Gr remains on the commutator ring F The circuit now beingcompleted the magnets K K attract and hold the plate F attached to theshaft E". The current being transmit-ted through wires Z and Z excitesthe solenoid D causing the core D to bev drawn inward throwing open theswitch arm D through the medium of the link D The operator then insertsthe carrier into the inlet A from whence it is transmitted through thetube B, thence through the open switch D. The trip D is then engaged bythe carrier thereby breaking the circuit, and the carrier discharges atsubstationA Simultaneously with the breaking of the circuit, the magnetsK and K release the plate F causing the indicator to be thrown byreaction of the spring E out of the notch and breaking the contact ofthe plate F with the contact H and the controller is now in normalposition ready for despatching another carrier. In the meantime, thecore D being released, the switch arm D drops of its own weight intonormal or closed position. Carriers may be despatched to all othersub-stations along the line in a similar manner except sub-stations Awhich is the last station. The switch controlling this station is notconnected with the controller E, but is always open as shown in dottedlines Fig. 1.

All carriers despatched from central station A are received atsub-station A unless otherwise indicated by operating the controller E.Carriers may be returned from any of the sub-despatchingstat-ionsthrough the transmission tube B to the central receiving station orterminal B from whence they are discharged into the receptacle B Havingthus described the nature of my invention and set forth a constructionembodying the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a central station, aplurality of substations, a tube for the transmission of carriersconnecting said central with said substations, a series of normally openelectric circuits connecting said central station with sub-station, aswitch located at each substation for diverting carriers, a singlecontrolling means located'at said central station and controllin all ofsaid circuits, means for locking said controlling means in the positionto which it is adjusted for closing any desired circuit therebypreventing the operation of any other switch until the carrier haspassed the selected switch, and

means 'for releasing said controlling means from its locked positionafter a carrier has passed the switch at a predetermined substation.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a' central station, aplurality of substations, a tube for the transmission of carriersconnecting said central with said substations, a series of normally openelectric circuits connecting said central station with sub-station, aswitch located at each substation for diverting carriers, a singlerotative controlling means located at said central station andcontrolling all of s id controlling means in the position to whic it isadjusted for closing any desired circuit thereby preventing theoperation of any other switch until the carrier has passed the selectedswitch, and means for releasing said controlling means from its lockedposition after a carrier has passed the switch at a predeterminedsub-station.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a central station, aplurality of sub stations, a tube for the transmission of earriersconnecting said central with said substations, 2. series of normallyopen electric circuits connecting said central station with sub-station,a switch located at each substation for diverting carriers, a singlecontrolling means located at said central station and controlling all ofsaid circuits, means for locking said controlling means in the positionto which it is adjusted for closing any desired circuit therebypreventing the operation of any other switch until the carrier haspassed the selected switch, means for releasing said controlling meansfrom its locked position after a carrier has passed the switch at apredetermined sub-station, and means for indicating the selected switch.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a central station, aplurality of substations, a tube for the transmission of carriersconnecting said central with said substations, a series of normally openelectric circuits connecting said central station with carrier haspassed the selected switch,and'

automatic means for releasing said controlling means from its lockedposition after a carrier has passed the switch at a predeterminedsub-station.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a central station, aplurality of substations, a tube for-the transmission of carriersconnecting said central with said substations, a series of normally openelectric circuits connecting sald central station with sub-station, aswitch located at each substation for diverting carriers, a singlecontrolling means located at said central station and controlling all ofsaid circuits, means for locking said controlling means in the positionto which it is adjusted for closing any desired circuit therebypreventing the operation of any other switch until the carrier haspassed the selected switch, means for releaslng said controllingmeansfrom its-locked position after a carrier has passed the switch at apredetermined substation, and means operated by a carrier in transit forautomatically releasing said controlling means from its operativeposition after a carrier has passed the switch at a predeterminedsub-station.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nameto this specification in thepresenc'e'of two subscribing witnesses, this fifteenth day of FebruaryA. D. 1906.

HAROLD D. WATERHOUSE. Witnesses:

A. L. MESSER, LOUIS G. BARTLETI.

